William james noble



(No Model.

W. J. NOBLE.

GO FFINFASTENER.

No. 379,715. Patented Mar. 20, I888. lc d'j INVENTOR,

n. PETERS. Pmm-Lvmn Uurrnn STATES WILLIAM JAMES NOBLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.-

COFFlN-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 37 9,715, dated March 20, 1888.

Application filed 'July 25, 1887.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l', \VILLIAM J AMES NOBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Looking At tachments forBurial-Caskets, whereby the lid or top is easily and securely attached to the body of the casket; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of my invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in burial-caskets.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device for securing the cover on the casket, which device is simplein construction and effective in use.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts and details, as will be fully described and set forth hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the under side of the top of a casket, showing the projections or male parts of the locking devices in place. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the body of a casket, showing the corresponding sockets or female parts in position for engagement. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of a casket, showing the top secured in place. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the operative parts of my attachment. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the latch. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the metal spring-lock used in combination with the construction shown in Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

In the lid of a casket, A, Fig. l, I insert the catches O G andD D, which engage in the corresponding sockets, E E and F F, in relative position in the body of the casket B, Fig. 2.

The sockets F F are formed with a short longitudinal groove, G, of uniform width, in which slide the projecting curved and tapering catches D D, which are secured to the cas' ket by screws 3. The sockets F are further provided with ledgcsf, which serve to retain the catches D in position. The catches D are preferably made with a convex lower surface Serial No. 245,268. (No model.)

and with a curved top, to conform to theledge f when in position, and are tapered to apoint, as shown. The socket F also has an eye or opening, f back of the ledge f, and the ledge fis provided at its outer end with a straight sh 0ulder,f, against which bears the hook it of the spring H. The catch D is formed with an upper part or body, D, in which is secured the spring H, passing down the sides at m and under the bridge a, and secured to the lid by screws s,passing through the end of the spring H, holding it firmly in position.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the lid A is placed in position 011 the casket B, the projecting catches C and D will drop into the forward ends of the sockets E and F. The operator then pushes the lid forward until the catches 0 and d ride under the led ges f, bringing the lid into close contact with the casket. The inclined face h of hook h of springHwill ride over bridgef, and, dropping ou the other side, will bear against the shoulder f, thus effectively locking the lid and preventing its withdrawal. In the forward motion of the lid the tapered catches C and D will serve to adjust the sides to proper alignment in case of warpagc, which is an important feature of my invention. To withdraw the lid, the operator presses up the projection If of the spring H, thus releasing the hook h from engagement with bridge f and permitting the withdrawal of the lid.

I am aware that prior to myinvention locking devices have been used having hooks with notched ends and straight inclined backs, which enter and are secured in tapering sockets or slots enlarged at one end, and fitting into deeply-recessed apertures in the wood, and used in connection with springbolts and flat springs abutting against shoulders of recesses.

I am also aware that prior to my invention books of angular form with straight inclined backs have been used in connection with plates provided with triangular or cup-shaped slots or cavities wider at one end and narrower at the other end, whereby the hooks enter at the wider end and center themselves at the narrower end, and such I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of a casket-body, B, a

socket, F, attached to said body and provided with abridge,f, a1id,A, having a curved'catch,

D, andalocking spring, H, having downwardly-projecting hook h and laterally-projecting 5 finger-piece h", substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a casket-body, B, the socket F, attached to said body, said socket being provided with longitudinal groove, G, bridgef, and opening f, a lid, A, having the 10 curved catch D, decreasing transversely in width, and the locking-spring H, secured into a recess of the top plate of the catch D, and provided with the hook h and the lateral finger-piece h, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 15 have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of July, 1886.

WILLIAM JAMES NOBLE.

Witnesses:

WESLEY KELLEY, JOSEPH HOLMAN. 

